Grating



Aug. 5, 1947.

E. TAROF GRATING Filed Aug. 12, 1944 I INVENTOR. zfi'msi 7570/" 4. M k l ww 7 Patented Aug. 5, 1947 GRATING Ernest L. Tarof, Cupsaw Lake, N. .l., assignor to Kerlow Steel Flooring Company, Jersey City, N. 5., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 12, 1944, Serial No. 549,149

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to grating structure and particularly to simplified construction for such structures whereby splicing of adjacent panels is facilitated.

It is common to construct composite grating structure by the joining of a series of individual panels and in such composite grating structure the regularity of design of the individual panels is usually modified at their joining ends in order to accommodate various forms of connectors or couplings which are employed. In some grating structures either the straight bars or crimped strips, or both, are deformed or bent in order to join adjacent panels together. Sometimes the straight bars of one panel are offset so as to extend alongside the straight bars of an adjacent panel for enabling their connection. Sometimes thecrimped strips are under-crimped near their ends, that is, the regular crimped pattern of these strips is varied in order to permit their overlapping of straight bars of another panel or the introduction of a straight bar of one panel between a crimped strip and a straight bar of another panel for joining purposes. Whether the straight bars are offset or the crimped strips are under-crimped, the overall pattern of the mesh of two adjacent grating structures is considerably altered at their joined ends. This spoils the uniform appearance of a continuous grating structure and causes side sway of a motor vehicle as it passes over splices.

In addition to the manufacturing expense involved in offsetting the straight bars of grating or in under-crimping the crimped strips, such grating structures are often damaged during shipment because of the lengths of the unsupported ends of the bars and strips and extra labor is required for their repair. The unsupported ends are unconnected to each other and may become bent and twisted. Whether or not'the grating panels arrive in good condition at the place of assembly, a considerable amount of manual effort and special work is necessary to join them properly. If rivets are used for completing the splices, it is common to have on hand several sets of rivet squeezers to upset the different lengths of rivets used because of different numbers of over-lappin bars. Sometimes two, three, and four thicknesses of metal have to be united in one splice.

The present invention has the objective of 'avoiding all of the disadvantages previously referred to, while at the same time enabling the the shop and without overhanging or freely ex- 2 tending bars or loose connections between th bars and strips of a panel. In addition to effecting economies in the construction of the panels themselves, the invention also facilitates the joining of panels and a neater and better appearing splice results with hardly any discernible change in the overall appearance of the grating pattern,

Another object of the invention is to provide couplin members which can be readily slipped into place and secured to the abutting ends of adjacent panels and connected thereto, either by employment of rivets or welding. If rivets are employed it is necessary only that a single size of rivet and squeezer be used. The coupling members may be shipped to the job in bags and special labor is not necessary for their placement. Economies are efiected both in the construction of the panels and in the assembly of a composite grating structure in the field.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention appear in the following description and accompanying drawings in which the principle of the invention and the best mode of applying ing the same are disclosed.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 shows a plan of portions of joined ends of grating panels;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig, 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3--3 of Fig, 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one of the coupling members;

Fig. 5 is a detail of panels-joined with coupling members with which rivets are used.

' A composite grating structure is usually built up from a plurality of similar panels which are placed adjacent one another. For use for walkways, floorings, bridges and like purposes, the panels are generally secured to one another so as to provide a continuous grating structure. Fig. 1 illustrates the abutting ends of two grating "panels which have been joined together. Each panel is composed of straight bars I, arranged parallel to each other and separated by crimped strips 2 located one between each pair of parallel straight bars and fastened together at the points of contact therewith. Rivets 5 are commonly employed at the points of contact, as illustrated in the drawings, but in some cases welding is used in place of rivets. Each panel is usually in the shape of a rectangle of any desired length and with a width depending upon the number of straight bars and crimped strips assembled together. The ends of two similar panels 4 and 5 are illustrated in Fig. 1.

An advantage of the present invention is that all of the straight bars of a panel may be of the same length, and this is also true of all of the crimped strips. Both ends of an intermediate panel of a composite structure are alike. It will be noted that the crimped strips end at 6 just beyond the last rivet or contact connection at 1 and just short of the length of the straight bar I. Preferably the straight bars end in a line square to the longitudinal dimension of the grating panel so that each panel is in the form of a rectangle. This places the line of separation between abutting ends of panels in a straight line transverse to the panels for facilitating their construction. As a general rule the panels are so dimensioned with respect to their supporting structure that the ends of the panels overlie beams of the supporting structure.

It will be apparent that in the grating structure of the present invention, the straight bars of adjacent panels are aligned with respect to each other. Their ends 8 are unbent so that the upper edges of the straight bars extendin straight lines for the full length of a composite grating structure. A form of a coupling member made in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 4. This includes a pair of parallel straight pieces of bars or elements 9, ID which are spaced from each other at such distance that the outside faces II and [2 of the bars will contact with the inside faces 13 and M, respectively, of a pair of parallel straight bars I of the grating panels. The length of bar 9 is such as to fit within the space between the ends 6 of the crimped strips. The length or bar 10 is such as to. be conveniently connected between the portions 15 and [5 of the crimped strips.

The parallel bars 9 and 19 of the coupling member are connected together by members i! and I8, they being so proportioned and disposed as to simulate the appearance of the configuration of the laterally extending portions [5 and [6 of a crimped strip of the grating structure. The two bars 9, l0 and the connecting members I! and I? are welded together at their intersections as shown in the drawings,

and constitute a complete unit which may be readil slipped into position. A common conventional type of grating mesh is illustrated in the drawings, but it will be understood that whatever ma be the pattern of the grating, as determined by the configuration of the crimped strips, the coupling member will be so formed as to simulate the mesh of the grating without perceptibly departing from the overall pattern as r viewed from above.

In gratings employing crimped or bent strips it is a common practice to make the crimped strips of lesser depth than that of the straight bars, and if this proportion is followed in panels embodying the present invention the same proportions may be employed with respect to the depth of the connecting members I! and I8 and the straight bars 9 and it of the coupling member. I have found it convenient, however, to fasten the coupling member in place by means of welding operations, as this obviates the necessity'of field riveting and the usual problems attaching thereto. When the coupling members are to be secured in place by welding, the height of. the straight bars 9 and H3 thereof may be less than that of the straight bars so as to provide filler spaces above the bars 9 and ID for receiving welding metal.

Each of the straight bars 9 and ll) of the coupling are welded to the abutting ends of the iii) straight bars I of adjacent panels along their upper edges, as illustrated at I9 and 20 and-at their ends, if desired. If the coupling members are to be secured in place by the use of rivets 2|, as shown in Fig. 5, the upper edges of all of the members of the coupling may be in the same plane as the upper edges of the grating bars. Holes and notches are drilled in the straight bars of the panels at 2m, 22 and 23 to locate the upper edges of the coupling members flush with the upper edges of the panels. The drilling operations in the bars of the panels and in the coupling members may be completed in the shop before shipment. Field rivets of only one length and only one set of rivet squeezers are necessary for securing the coupling member.

While the depth of a coupling may be less than that of the deeper bars of the panels it is a convenience to have the depth of the coupling such that its bottom will be flush with the bottom of the panel when in its proper position so that when the coupling is dropped into place it will be supported by the beams, or other support by which the grating panels are supported, and in correct position for final attachment.

The coupling members are of small size and they can be easily shipped to the job in bulk, such as in barrels or boxes, and because of their small size they are rugged and not easily damaged. It is also noteworthy that the present invention enables the complete fabrication of the grating panels before shipment and that there are no extending lengths of bars from the grating which may be damaged during shipment.

What is claimed is:

1. In a composite grating structure comprising a plurality of panels, each panel being composed of straight bars arranged parallel to each other and separated by crimped strips located one between each pair of said parallel straight bars and fastened thereto at points of contact therewith, the comblnation of a set of adjacent panels of the above-described form having their straight bars ending end-to-end so that respective bars of one panel are aligned with respective bars of the other panel, and the crimped strips of said panels ending short of the ends of the straight bars, a plurality of coupling members connecting said adjacent panels, each of said coupling members being between pairs of. straight bars, each coupling member being secured on one side to each of aligned straight bars of. adjacent panels and on its other side to each of other aligned straight bars of the same adjacent panels, each of said coupling members having parallel elements and connecting members extending between and joined to said parallel elements.

2. A grating structure such as defined in claim 1 in which the straight bars oi the grating panels end in straight lines square to the edge. of the panels and the crimped strips end shortof the ends of the straight bars at pontsof contact therewith.

3. A structure such as defined in. claim I in which the members connecting the straight bars of the coupling member are so disposed as to simulate the configuration of the laterally extending portions of the crimped strips.

4. A structure such asdefined in claim I in which there is a coupling member between each pair of straight bars of adjoining panels and the coupling members are between the upperand lower portions of the panels.

the coupling members are disposed below the upper edges of the straight bars of the panels and the coupling members are secured to the joined panels by welding metal between the straight bars of the coupling members and the straight bars of the panels.

6. A structure such as defined in claim 1 in which coupling members are secured to the ends of adjacent panels by welding.

7. A structure such as defined in claim 1 in which rivets are employed to join the coupling members to the straight bars of adjacent panels.

8. In a composite grating structure including at least one pair of panels, each of which is made up of spaced straight bars fastened together by spacing bars whereby meshes are provided between contiguous straight bars, and the adjacent ends of the straight bars of the respective panels are in alignment, the combination with said grating structure of a plurality of coupling members overlapping the ends of the straight bars of the respective panels, each coupling member comprising a pair of parallel straight bars spaced from one another at such distance that their outside surfaces are disposed adjacent the inside surfaces of contiguous straight bars of said grating structure, and connecting members joined at their ends to the inside surfaces of said parallel straight bars of said coupling, saidconnecting members being so disposed as to simulate the mesh of the grating structure, and means securing each of said coupling members to contiguous straight bars of the respective panels whereby the panels are Joined end-to-end.

9. In a composite grating structure including at least one pair of panels, each of which is made up of spaced straight bars fastened together by spacing bars whereby meshes are provided between contiguous straight bars, and the adjacent ends of the straight bars of the respective panels are in alignment, the combination with said grating structure of a plurality of coupling members joining the panels end-to-end, each coupling member being composed of a pair of parallel straight bars of difierent lengths and spaced from one another at such distance that their outside surfaces are disposed adjacent the inside surfaces of continguous straight bars of said grating structure, and connecting members REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Lewis et al Mar. 12, 1940 Number 

